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The Environment Show covers environmental news, issues, innovations, best practice, leaders, heroes, jobs, places, events, books and films. We look at the big picture and key issues, the common sense solutions to our environmental problems, and the unusual stories which remind us of our brilliant connection with the real world - nature. Follow these links for more information about Phil Stubbs and about The Environment Show.

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Dig baby dig! (And grow baby grow!)

With all this gloom and doom around, here’s something positive you can do. It’ll not only be good for your weekly budget, but all also make you happier. And surprise, in a very small way, also be good for the planet.

Grab a shovel, go out to the verge in front of your house, and dig it up. That’s right, turn that earth, plant some vegies in there, and watch food grow before your very eyes.

I did exactly that and you wouldn’t believe the results. Vegies are just some of them.

‘After (a month)’

The other, even more brilliant thing, is that I’ve met some great people who live around me who’ve pitched in and helped get it to where it is. We now have over 30 in our little collective. Every time I’m pottering around out there some passer-by comes up and says “I just wanted to tell you you how great it is you’re doing that.”

Here’s the before and during shots:

‘Before’

‘During’

I’ve felt a sense of community, which really is an amazing thing to strike in Sydney. (Not normally one of the city’s strong points.) And of course there are all those other benefits – like the joy of picking your own stuff to eat, getting your hands dirty, showing the local kids where food comes from, saving on food miles, peak oil and all that. In fact those clever Permaculture people were advocating we do this long ago.

Go Phil! Love the idea.
A couple of years ago Sarah put a wheelbarrow of our excess pink grapefruit outside our gate with a sign that said “FREE TO GOOD NEIGHBOURS”. Not only did we get some passion fruit and wine in our wheelbarrow in return, it sparked a discussion on what actually is a good neighbour. Provocative Produce….